Thanks for the info, I'll try to retorque that down...and as for copper, I donno if it was copper. Is it just the ring thats copper or the whole gasket? The bike runs great, did yours run bad because you didnt prepare the gasket?

I think the problem is that I haven't retorqued the head. It makes since, the leak is very slow and unnoticable. Any other ideas?

 

Retorqueing is BS.

 

I didn't retorque mine on the Craycraft Signature 686 but I did torque them to 31 ft/lbs (incrementally) and I sprayed both sides with Felpro copper spray before I installed it. That motor was sound, the guy that bought it won his XC class the first time he raced it. I used the Cometic Fire Ring head gasket in APR 03, not sure what revision that means.

 

If it's BS then why? So your saying that isn't my problem, right? What do you think then Gary? You seem to have some good answers. I'm still gonna retorque just to be on the safe side but I don't know what else would be causing this unless I cracked my head which I highly doubt.

 

I meant that retorqueing should not be necessary and is a pain in the rear. Retorqueing head bolts, retorqueing cylinder bolts...yada yada yada. I recently used the new design Cometic head gasket. When I started the engine up their was a lot of bubbles in the overflow tank....leaky head gasket I was thinking. After a minute or so the bubbles stopped. My oil looks good and I am not loosing coolant....so maybe I am OK. A copper head gasket should take care of the leaks....anyone tried one? I noticed where Cometic is supposedly making one??
Gary

 

So your basically having the same problem as me cept you think yours is fixed now? If you don't think retorqing will help what will? God, I'll prolly have to get a new freakin gasket.

 

you got to get out there and get some ride time before the heads bolts come loose, mine dident start doing untill the second ride or third i believe, then we retourqed and they were loose, so it happens..the head bolts will not get that loose from just starting but need to be building up some serious pressure to see if it can hang..JMO..

My overflow would fill and not dispense back to the radiator but would stay at a minimal level till i got on the bike and the gas then it would leak and overflow....

 

I am not loosing coolant....I think I am fine (knock on wood).

 

1Bad, Did you retorqe yours again to fix the prob?

 

Yes it seemed to have cured the problem. The two head bolts next to the timing chain were loose, it took about a half turn to torque one of them back to spec and a little more on the other. Of coures the ones you can get to with out pulling the rocker cover were fine.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img] On the next build we'll retorque the bolts either after cam break in and 6 or so heat cycles or after the first break in ride.